Patrick Marshall Hudgens, 58, of Fredericksburg, VA, and Rockport, TX, passed away on September 5th, 2024.
Patrick was born in Norfolk, VA to Lloyd and Constance Hudgens on December 30th, 1965. He graduated from Houghton Lake High School in 1984. He then graduated from the American Military University with a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security Studies. In 1986, he joined the U.S. Navy. He served as an Intelligence Specialist for 9 years, with active-duty assignments that included Operation Sharp Edge and Operation Desert Storm, followed by 3 years of Naval Reserve duty.
In 1994, Patrick joined the city of Portsmouth Police Department as a Police Officer and Criminal Investigator and served in this capacity for 4 years. From 1997 to 2000, he served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Coast Guard, conducting undercover and counterintelligence operations in Portsmouth, VA and Miami, FL. In July of 1998, he was appointed to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, within the Department of Justice, which later became the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as a Special Agent.
In May of 2000, Patrick joined the U.S. Army as the Team Leader for the Tactical HUMINT/Counterintelligence team, followed by his appointment as a Senior Drill Sergeant. During this time, he also served as a Miami Dade Police Department and federal Special Response Team tactical diver. Patrick retired from the U.S. Army in May of 2007 after 7 years of faithful service.
In December 2007, Patrick was promoted to HSI Supervisory Special Agent at HSI HQ in Washington, D.C. In May 2011, he was promoted as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (interim) of the HSI Washington, D.C. field office, where he supervised the Investigative Services and Special Operations Division; to include the Special Response Team. Patrick served as the Principal Tactical Law Enforcement Officer for Super Bowl 52, the 2016 Republican National Convention, the 2015 World Police and Fire Games, and the Washington, D.C. Nuclear Summit event. From September 2018 to July 2020, Patrick was assigned as the HSI Senior National Security Liaison for the Central Intelligence Agency. During this time, he achieved his NRA firearms Instructor certification. In July 2020, Patrick transitioned to HSI HQ as the Assistant Director for the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs in Washington, D.C. In this position, he was responsible for National Policy, Strategic Planning, and the provisioning of more than 13,000 Law Enforcement personnel with firearms, certifications, equipment, support, and training. He retired from DHS/ICE in 2022, after more than 24 years of Federal Government Service.
From January 2015, until his passing in September 2024, Patrick served on the Board of Directors of the National Capital Region SWAT Association. He was involved in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the National Tactical Officers Association. He received the Commissioner's Award for "Operation Reunion" in 2001, the U.S. Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award in 2005, the ICE Assistant Secretary's Award for Courage in 2007, and the National Tactical Officers Association Citation for Valor in 2014.
Among all of the accomplishments Patrick had throughout his career, he was also a devoted father and grandfather.
Patrick is preceded in death by his father, Lloyd and brother, Scott.
Patrick is survived by daughter, Julia, grandson, Colton, granddaughter, Delaney, mother, Constance, sister, Mary Beth, nephew, Alexander, nieces, Brenna and Hannah, along with many beloved family and friends.
View his obituary on Legacy.com. A GoFundMe was established for his daughter, Julia.